Artist's depiction of the old Mormon Tabernacle at Kanesville
W. W. Phelps’ Mormon Years (3): A Jester in Deseret
(Under Construction)
Came to Utah Sept. 16, 1848, Brigham Young Company....
A page from Burton's 1862 City of the Saints -- Fanciful "Endowment" scene from European editions (inset)
A small capital letter block print from Ann Eliza Young's Wife no.19 depicts Phelps as the Mormon Devil.
(Under Construction)
Vol. I.
New Salt Lake City, U. T., Saturday, July 26, 1851.
No. 38.
Remarks by W.W. Phelps
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July 24, 1851
...Here let a nursery be sown with the seeds of understanding... Here let the filthy degraded Israelite of America, the poor Indian, come
and unlearn his corruptions and errors; sip at the fountain of sense distilled from the flowers of Zion, till by its life-regenerating powers, he
becomes white, delightsome, and holy. Here let the Jehovah-smitten Canaanite bow in humble submission to his superiors, and prepare
himself for a mansion of glory when the black curse of disobedience shall have been chased from his skin by a glance from the Lord....
(view source in context)
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In the Summer of 1851, a party of pleasure, men and women, resorted to
the top of Ensign Peak, near the city, and, among others, was an address delivered by W. W. Phelps, in which he went on to
enlighten the mothers and daughters in Israel as to the proper time and manner in which the work of generation should be carried
on, with a minuteness of detail and vulgarity of language which could scarcely have been rendered more broad had he denuded
himself by way of illustration. This reached the climax of Mormon obscenity has ever after been designated as "Phelps' Sermon
on the Mount," and is often used by way of comparison; that is, when anything a little richer than common has been elicited, it
is said to be almost equal to "Phelps Sermon on the Mount." ...
The W. W. Phelps, above-named, was a kind of broken-down political "whipper in," who resided for a time at Cortlandt, and also
at Canandaigua, in the State of New-York. There were too many screws loose in his mind to make him efficient in anything. Soon
after, Joseph Smith appeared upon the stage, with Spaulding's "Golden Bible," and his own machinery of peep-stones, and
hocus-pocus miracles. Phelps was irresistibly attracted, and became an early convert. When the troubles came on in Missouri,
and Joseph and Brother Hyrum was arrested for treason, Phelps apostatized, and, as a witness before Judge King, made some
disclosures in regard to the "Danites." The Saints were driven from that State, and made a temporary lodgment at Nauvoo, Ill.,
and the apostate returned to the bosom of the Church. He is now a great man in Mormondom -- was a member of the first Legislative
Assembly, and is also of the current one; is Judge of the County Court, almanac-maker and "King's jester and, above all, in the
secret penetralia of the Mormon temple mysteries, he plays the part of the serpent-devil in the garden of Eden. And, in fact, on
such occasions, he wriggles and hisses so much like a snake, that he is regarded by all the Saints as indispensable.
"The Mormonites" -- New York Times (1853)
...There is an eccentric Mormon at Salt Lake City of the name of W. W. Phelps. He is from Cortland,
State of New York, and has been a Saint for a good many years. It is said he enacts the character
of the Devil, with a pea-green tail, in the Mormon initiation ceremonies. He also published an almanac,
in which he blends astronomy with short moral essays, and suggestions in regard to the proper management
of hens....
Artemus Ward, His Travels (1865)
Vol. XXI.
New York City, Wednesday, Thursday, June 17?, 1855.
No. ?
The Ravages of the Grasshopper in Utah.
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GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U. T.,
June 1, 1855.
You will recollect me, late as Speaker of the House of Representatives of this Territory, and now a member of the said
House; and having just returned from a tour through the southern settlement of this far-off land, in company with the
Governor and others, I am prepared to give an account of the most astounding ravages and destruction by grasshoppers
I ever knew or heard of.
The wheat crop, which promised so much and which is almost the commodity of life in these thousand-mile deserts and
thousand feet mountains, is, like an extinguished light gone -- yea, that and almost everything else that can be nipped
by grasshoppers, have vanished, "like the baseless fabric of a vision."
To all appearances, wheat will not be raised for another crop; and, as a matter of course, meat of every kind must be
just as scarce, unless we make a dernir resort on grasshoppers.
Mr. Cain, a gentleman of discernment, has just returned from an excursion north, and says the grasshoppers are
pushing themselves out of the earth by billions and trillions; and should the warm weather hasten their growth and
their wings so as to fly, the whole country may cry, "Wo to the land of their flight and the day of their might."
The greatest European armies of the Crimea cannot meet out our destruction like this host of Jehovah, and except
we live by faith we live not; make war upon the nurseries, forests and shrubbery of both fields and plains; and, insects
and hunger have no conscience, unless the old countries are blessed with an abundance of provisions, and the army
cometh not to devour, there must be a famine; and when the trial comes what is a dollar for a pound of flour, a pound
of meat, if there is none? As Shakespere says, "that's the rub," for rich and poor.
I send you this for publication that strangers may not come to Utah to strave; for a thousand miles from all sources
of relief cannot be passed, among the mountains of snow in the depth of winter, without as much faith as the children
of Israel had to be led through the Red Sea by Moses; and already every route to California swarms with all that fear
and dread, the crucible that tries the hearts and veins of all. As the poet sung, "Such a getting out of trouble, such a
running from the bubble, I never did see!" Respectfully, &c., W. W. PHELPS.
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John W. Gunnison's copy of the Salt Lake Valley "Hiroglypicks," as published in his 1852 book.
[March 18, 1850] -- Hiroglypicks found on Rock in Sampiche valley Great Basin
"I Mahanti the 2 King of the Lamanites in 5 vallies in the Mountains make this record in the 12 hundreth year since we came out
of Jerusalem -- And I have three sons gone to the South country to live by hunting antelope & deer." -- Translated by W. W. Phelps.
Found 100 miles south of Little Salt Lake Valley -- (on high escarpment)
John W. Gunnison Journal
1855 - Jan 14, Phelps preached in Tabernacle
1855 - Feb 14, W. W. Phelps delivered a speech on the Lost Ten Tribes
Universal Scientific Society Minute Book, February 24, 1855, p. 25.
TRUTH AND LIBERTY.
Vol. X.
New Salt Lake City, U. T., Wednesday, April 11, 1860.
No. 6.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER
DAY SAINTS.
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Convened in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City...
Saturday, April 7, -- 10 A. M.
The meeting was called to order by the President. Choir sung "Hail to the brightness of Zion's glad morning." Prayer by Elder W. W. Phelps.
...Elder William W. Phelps made remarks on the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, a copy of which he said he received
on the 9th day of April, 30 years ago; that book he considered to be the foundation of all that which has brought so many of us together,
therefore he rose up to bear testimony to its truth. He held in his hand a copy of the first edition of that book and declared it to be the
truth of the Almighty; he had had heard the testimony of Joseph Smith and that of the chosen witnesses in relation to the Book of Mormon,
and he with them wished to give his testimony to the world relative to its divine origin, said he knew this to be the church of the living god,
and that Brigham Young was the legally appointed successor of Joseph Smith, and that all who receive this testimony will be saved
in the celestial kingdom, and he wished he had a thousand tongues to speak of the great things of the kingdom to the nations of the earth....
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JOSEPH SMITH'S LAST DREAM.
From Phelps' Almanac for the Year 1863, pages 27-28.
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In June, 1844, when Joseph Smith went to Carthage and delivered himself up to Gov. Ford, I accompanied him, and while on the way thither,
he related to me and his brother Hyrum the following dream:
He said: "While I was at Jordan's in Iowa the other night, I dreamed that myself and my brother Hyrum went on board of a large steamboat,
lying in a small bay, near the great ocean. Shortly after we went on board there was an "alarm of fire," and I discovered that the boat had been
anchored some distance from the shore, out in the bay, and that an escape from the fire, in the confusion, appeared hazardous; but, as
delay was folly, I and Hyrum jumped overboard, and tried our faith at walking upon the water.
At first we sank in the water nearly to our knees, but as we proceeded we increased in faith, and were soon able to walk upon the water.
On looking towards the burning boat in the east, we saw that it was drifting towards the wharf and the town, with a great flame and clouds
of smoke; and, as if by whirlwind, the town was taking fire, too, so that the scene of destruction and horror of the frightened inhabitants
was terrible.
We proceeded on the bosom of the mighty deep and were soon out of sight of land. The ocean was still; the rays of the sun were bright,
and we forgot all the troubles of our Mother Earth. Just at that moment I heard the sound of a human voice, and, turning round, saw my
brother Samuel H. approaching towards us from the east. We stopped and he came up. After a moment's conversation he informed me that
he had been lonesome back, and had made up his mind to go with me across the mighty deep.
We all started again, and in a short time were blest with the first sight of a city, whose gold and silver steeples and towers were more
beautiful than any I had ever seen or heard of on earth. It stood, as it were, upon the western shore of the mighty deep we were walking on,
and its order and glory seemed far beyond the wisdom of man. While we were gazing upon the perfection of the city, a small boat launched
off from the port, and, almost as quick as thought, came to us. In an instant they took us on board and saluted us with a welcome, and
with music such as is not on earth. The next scene, on landing, was more than I can describe: the greeting of old friends, the music from
a thousand towers, and the light of God himself at the return of three of his sons, soothed my soul into a quiet and a joy that I felt as if I
was truly in heaven. I gazed upon the splendor; I greeted my friends, I awoke, and lo, it was a dream!
While I meditated upon such a marvelous scene, I fell asleep again, and behold I stood near the shore of the burning boat, and there was a
great consternation among the officers, crew and passengers of the flaming craft, as there seemed to be much ammunition or powder on
board. The alarm was given that the fire was near the magazine, and in a moment, suddenly, it blew up with a great noise, and sank in deep
water with all on board. I then turned to the country east, among the bushy openings, and saw William and Wilson Law endeavoring to escape
from the wild beasts of the forest, but two lions rushed out of a thicket and devoured them. I awoke again."
I will say that Joseph never told this dream again, as he was martyred about two days after. I relate from recollection as nearly as I can.
PHELPS.
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Salt Lake City, 18 Mar., 1872.
Dear Friend:
I received your kind letter and was glad to hear from you. I have to inform you that Mr. Phelps died the sixth day of March,
and will have a part in the first resurrection of Saints and Apostles. Through all his fightings and doing he has died at a good old age.
Peace to his memory. His works will follow him. He is with Joseph and Hiram, the Blessed Martyrs, who died for the Testimony
of Jesus, who believed in Revelation and Resurrection literally fulfilled. God is our Judge and our [souls?] are free -- Jesus and his
Apostles were thought not fit to live on the Earth, and were slain for their religion, but we fear not what man can do unto us knowing
that God is on our side.
Should like you to come to Salt Lake City and see and hear for yourself. Should like to hear from you often. Accept my best wishes
and may Peace attend you and yours, I remain your friend and well-wisher.
Sally Phelps.
Joseph once told W. W. Phelps and wife that they should never taste death. The manner of the fulfillment of that promise is rather singular.
They supposed, and so did all that knew of the promise, that they were to never die, but the Lord does business in his own way and his way
is not as the way of a man.
Before Brother Phelps died he lost all his judgment, lost al his mind reason, consciousness and all sense. He knew nothing, not even
his name, nor how to eat, thus being unable to taste of anything, not even death. His mind gradually dwindled, withered and dried up.
His wife was killed instantly, so quickly that she had no time to taste of death. She was killed as she was dipping up a bucket of water
from the ditch, a gust of Independence hurled a board from a house and it struck her on the neck breaking it instantly. She never tasted
of death nor even felt the blow.
History of the life of Oliver B. Huntington (1881)
What is life? 'tis to exist
In a world of wealth and woes
Where the wickedness and death
Makes one shudder as he goes.
'Tis to come like morning fair;
Rise and rove like ocean wave,
Fall and fade like shooting stars,
Leaving nothing but -- a grave!
(William W. Phelps, March 1835)
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